Chapter 5: I don't understand, but I am deeply shocked!

After his mood calmed down, Zhang Xuan was in no rush to immediately go to Earth to seek a master and learn arts.

The methods of the Zhetian World are good, but the real slaughter in the Cultivation World is no lie, and the mortality rate is still quite high.

And with Earth mired in the End of Dharma Era, the cultivators of this period are not exactly easy to deal with.

If possible, it is still better to be more cautious and careful when making contact.

In any case, Zhang Xuan had a baseline requirement in his heart: at worst, he could act as a nanny for a while and take good care of Ye Fan's parents, especially the parents of Ye Fan and Pang Bo.

Obtaining cultivation methods this way carries the least risk and offers immense rewards.

"Sigh, no need to think so much, just wait for now. Things are still early, having a plan is enough."

Zhang Xuan felt too tired; he had made countless preparations regarding the Chat Group, only to be caught off guard by the realization that he was actually living in the Zhetian World.

The good part is that living on Earth is basically free of major danger, and the whole world is very peaceful; the bad part is that living on Earth in the End of Dharma Era is so extreme that one cannot even find a path to cultivation.

"Let's first see if there are any new members and learn some life-saving things from them."

Suddenly, as if thinking of something, Zhang Xuan used his consciousness to ask the chat history in his mind.

"Characters from other worlds are subject to level restrictions and can only add Tier 3 characters, but if I want to add people from my own world, there are no level restrictions, right?"

This was a new, good method Zhang Xuan had thought of.

If he slowly went to find people to ask for cultivation methods, it would be very easy for problems to arise and for him to be done for on the spot.

But if he pulled others into his home turf, into the Chat Group, then it would be his stage.

He was a top-tier Administrator, and there were many ways to obtain cultivation methods from Chat Group members without leaving too many traces, and without any danger.

Relatively speaking, this was the safest method; the Chat Group was not intelligent, more like a tool, and it only gave Zhang Xuan a vague response in his mind.

The same world is indeed not restricted.

This was the answer the Chat Group gave Zhang Xuan, and Zhang Xuan couldn't help but clench his fists in excitement.

"Then how do I search actively? How do I actively invite people to join the Chat Group?"

Zhang Xuan continued to ask in his mind using his consciousness, and the Chat Group replied slowly.

It only answered with a mass of vague rules and was quite unintelligent, but Zhang Xuan felt this was actually fine; if the Chat Group were truly top-tier intelligent, he might not be able to handle it.

At that point, he wouldn't know if he was controlling the Chat Group or if the Chat Group was controlling him.

"When the Chat Group level increases, it will naturally open searches to add new members. During searches, other worlds are subject to level restrictions, but one's own world is not subject to level restrictions."

Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

He didn't need to ask the Chat Group about upgrading; Zhang Xuan had possessed the Chat Group for three years.

He had studied it: as long as the Group Members contributed enough to the group, uploaded enough Group Files, and sent enough rich and high-quality Red Packets, the Chat Group would naturally upgrade.

Zhang Xuan had even written this as a group announcement in the group rules.

Well, it was true that uploading enough files and having rich information would make the Chat Group upgrade.

As for sending enough Red Packets to make the Chat Group upgrade, that was false.

That was something Zhang Xuan made up, mainly to get more Red Packets.

"That's fine then. Based on the current Chat Group level, I can still add five more Group Members, so there are still many opportunities."

After clarifying these things, Zhang Xuan felt even more motivated.

Adding people to the Chat Group is very interesting; usually, they are not the protagonist, but they are important supporting characters.

And given the current level of Zhetian, if he were lucky enough to pull in a character from Zhetian, he would definitely be able to obtain top-tier cultivation methods.

All previous plans would no longer need to be considered.

"Hmm, the top priority is still to let the Chat Group upgrade..."

Ding, Zhang Xuan uploaded the Group File Wudang Internal Arts.

On Wudang Mountain, when Zhang Sanfeng, sitting in the True Martial Hall, heard such a sound in his mind, his expression became a bit strange.

He was still digesting and absorbing the information from the Chat Group; he had been quite curious when Zhang Xuan disappeared earlier and wanted to chat more with him. He was very curious about this novel Chat Group.

Now that Zhang Xuan was back online, his interest was piqued again.

Zhang Sanfeng: Fellow Daoist, what are you doing?

"Uh..."

After the upload was complete, seeing Zhang Sanfeng's message, Zhang Xuan realized he had uploaded the Wudang Internal Arts to the Group Files without asking for Zhang Sanfeng's opinion, and he felt a bit embarrassed.

After all, ancient sects were extremely protective of their traditions; internal arts between different sects were not to be spread casually, and outsiders who practiced them would be hunted down to have their martial arts reclaimed and their cultivation crippled.

Zhang Xuan uploading the file without asking Zhang Sanfeng, allowing all Group Members to see it, was indeed a bit abrupt.

Although he could use the excuse of different eras and different ideological cultures, it was ultimately still a bit unfair to Zhang Sanfeng.

Of course, Zhang Sanfeng didn't quite understand what a Group File was yet, so if Zhang Xuan didn't say anything, Zhang Sanfeng might just take the loss, but after thinking about it, Zhang Xuan decided to explain.

Zhang Xuan: Apologies, I was just testing a new function of the group; it was my abruptness.

Zhang Xuan apologized proactively and explained the concept of Group Files, stating that any Group Member could download them.

Zhang Sanfeng was quite broad-minded, and he truly didn't care much; after all, it was just the most basic method and couldn't be considered precious.

Zhang Sanfeng: No matter, no matter. Everyone in the Chat Group has an affinity with the Immortal; perhaps others don't even care about my Wudang Internal Arts.

Moreover, for martial arts to progress, one must exchange and communicate; closing the door to build a cart is not advisable.

Zhang Xuan felt Zhang Sanfeng's broad-minded demeanor and could only say that he was worthy of being a Grandmaster.

But after thinking about it, Zhang Xuan still responded earnestly: Regardless, a mistake is a mistake. The True Person may not mind, but I do; one must compensate for a mistake.

Before Zhang Sanfeng could refuse, Zhang Xuan continued to respond: The Administrator in the group has created worlds many times, and I have seen many worlds rise and fall, some of which are related to the True Person.

Zhang Sanfeng:... What the Layman says is profound and mysterious; this old Daoist does not quite understand.

Zhang Xuan smiled; this was one of the basic methods of "bluffing" he had thought over and over again.

After a pause, he quickly responded.

Zhang Xuan: To us, our world is everything.

However, for figures like the Chat Group Administrator, the birth and destruction of a world exist only within a single thought of theirs.

I once saw that Administrator, who calls himself the Heavenly Dao Controller, deduce techniques and create countless lives, and among them, I saw the world of True Person Zhang.

Zhang Sanfeng: This old Daoist... this old Daoist cannot quite understand.

"Actually, I don't quite understand it either; most of it is basically just made up."

This thought swirled in Zhang Xuan's mind, but he immediately dismissed it.

Replacing it was a solemn expression, as he prepared to seriously popularize some knowledge and clearly explain the most basic settings he had thought through, since many more people would come to the Chat Group in the future.

It was best to set the tone first to make it easier to fool people later, and since Zhang Sanfeng, as an ancient person, clearly lacked broad experience, he was the best experimental subject.

Zhang Xuan: I came to the Chat Group earlier than you; at that time, the Heavenly Dao Controller was still active for a period, and he would create worlds daily, watching the birth and destruction of different worlds.

One of those worlds is roughly the same as the world you are in; do not speak of your past and future yet, let me speak, and you see if it is correct.

Zhang Xuan spoke of parts of the situation from The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber that were in his memory, mainly the situation from The Return of the Condor Heroes before the events of The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, as well as the more outstanding figures among the six great sects of the world, leaving Zhang Sanfeng dumbfounded and unable to restrain his emotions.

Zhang Sanfeng: The world I am in was created by a single thought from a figure like the Heavenly Dao Controller, and he creates countless worlds between his thoughts; does that not mean I am a character created by someone else's thought?

Are we just puppets, like marionettes, to them?

Zhang Sanfeng understood a part of it and was immediately greatly shocked.

The main thing was that Zhang Sanfeng had never spoken of more subtle matters regarding his world, yet Zhang Xuan had said them all, even mentioning that he once liked Guo Xiang.

Zhang Sanfeng's words revealed an extremely intense shock, and Zhang Xuan was very satisfied with this state.

Therefore, he did not continue to intensify the shock in this regard, but instead began to comfort Zhang Sanfeng.

Zhang Xuan: The development of a world generally has a direction, but fate is not immutable.

The Great Dao is fifty, the Heavenly Dao is forty-nine, and one escapes.

That Heavenly Dao Controller creates countless worlds and watches their birth and destruction, yet he never interferes.

Fate is fixed, yet not forever fixed; just like you, Daoist, now that you know your own fate, this fate is already destined to change.

It is absolutely impossible for it to remain unchanged.

As for the debate between reality and illusion, it has no great meaning; I only discovered today that I, too, was once one of those countless worlds of birth and destruction.

Zhang Sanfeng: Is it truly so?

Zhang Xuan: Of course, knowing a predetermined line of fate is not terrifying; rather, it is a thing worth rejoicing over.

Just as a master of calculation deduces future fate, since you know it, you can use this part to change it and create a fate that belongs to yourself; if one can truly say "my life is determined by me," only then can one Planting Golden Lotus in Fire—is this not what the Daoist school seeks?

On Wudang Mountain, Zhang Sanfeng's heart shook, and he murmured: "If one can truly say 'my life is determined by me,' only then can one Planting Golden Lotus in Fire."

He instantly captured the heroism and ambition within these words.

"Yes, my life is determined by me, not by Heaven; since there really is such a Heaven, then I shall shatter it and carve out a Heaven that belongs to me."

Zhang Sanfeng's gaze gradually became firm, and a sharp light shone from his black-and-white eyes.

Zhang Xuan felt that the Zhang Sanfeng opposite him should have gradually regained his calm, so he laughed and said: "Let us return to the beginning; I have offended the True Person, so naturally, I must provide compensation."

Zhang Xuan: Between the birth and destruction of worlds, I once caught a glimpse and learned part of the fate of True Person Zhang's world; if my memory serves me correctly, there is a Nine Yang Divine Art in the Kunlun Mountains area.

Since I caused the True Person to lose part of his heritage, I should also make it up to the True Person.

Under the Bright Peak of the Ming Cult, there is an underground secret passage, and within the secret passage is the Ming Cult's town-sect divine art, the Universe Shift.

(End of this chapter)